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Board Advisory Services

Bringing Proven Techniques and Best Practices to Each Board

Whom We Coach

An Investment in the Success of a Leader is an Investment in the Success of an Organization

Empirical research has shown that equipping a leader with a strong support system is the best way to ensure success. Our mission is to provide an affordable source of support, feedback, and counsel.

A coach at CS&A serves as a confidential sounding board, offers an objective point of view steeped in leadership experience, and helps identify areas of difficulty or leadership blind spots that benefit from a fresh perspective.

Services We Provide

We know that different schools are in different stages of governance development, and we customize our governance and board support work for each school.

  • Mentoring 
  • Governance and board development 
  • Dynamic strategy services 
  • Certified executive coaching 
  • Needs assessment 
  • Board and head evaluation and goal setting 
  • Mission, marketing, and messaging 
  • Transition services 

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our approach

Unlock the Full Potential in Your Talent

Governance and Board Development

Our fresh set of eyes—informed by a deep understanding of good governance—allows us to first understand where you are, then help you decide where you want to be, and finally work with you to devise a path from here to there. There are essential principles of good practice that are time honored and have proven, even in this rapidly changing landscape, to be worthwhile. Even the best boards can get better, and even the best schools sometimes have boards that can use help. 

Dynamic Strategic Services 

We believe that an outcomes-focused, flexible approach is far better than a “canned” process, when paired with a system that assigns accountability for results, metrics for success and expectations for timelines. While the basic steps of an inclusive information-gathering process and a representative committee deciding among options remain central to getting good buy-in for the strategic priorities, each project must adapt to meet the outcomes and the timetable for each school. 

Certified Executive Coaching

Leading schools is complicated. Those who lead (heads, trustees, administrators) need all the support available in navigating the many challenges and opportunities before them. Through ICF-certified coaching, we offer guidance in personal and professional growth, strategic thinking, team building, conflict management, and change management. In building self-awareness, leaders leverage strengths in finding paths to success for themselves and their schools.

Needs Assessment

Sometimes, it’s unclear to a school what it needs. By asking us to come in and talk with people, ask the right questions, and provide honest and insightful feedback, a school can often avoid charging headlong down the wrong path. Most schools see their trees very well but may need an informed, experienced and objective outsider to provide a perspective that will help them see the forest as well.

Board and Head Evaluation and Goal Setting

Good evaluation must start with mutually agreed-upon goals against which performance can be measured. Not only does this help a head understand his/her objectives, but it also forces the board to get on the same page and speak with one voice. By keeping it simple, and focusing the evaluation on those vital few items that really matter, evaluation can be more effective, and can also form the basis for the next year’s goals. 

Mission, Marketing, and Messaging

Today, every school must be crystal clear about who they are, and who they aren’t; who they serve and who they don’t. They must define themselves not by how they go about educating students, but rather by the student outcomes they produce. It takes discipline and an objective outsider to help a school articulate a mission that is unique and compelling, outcomes-oriented and inspiring.

Transition Services

As expectations often run high during a transition, having an outside consultant is essential to anticipating potential issues and guiding the transition chairs to respond with sensitivity and attention to detail. Each school is unique, but the patterns that emerge during transitions are similar. The strongest schools strive to be pro-active rather than re-active, and protecting this new human asset is certainly worth the investment. Every move is symbolic, and it’s important to develop support in what is inevitably an ambiguous period.

Mentoring

Most heads and administrators would cite the presence of a mentor in their development as a key to their professional progress. But not everyone has access to a mentor that can provide adequate time and attention. With more highly successful former heads than any other firm — all with experience as both mentees and mentors — we have the right mentor to provide advice, guidance, and appropriate confidentiality at any stage of one’s career.

Our coaching Team

A Fresh Set of Eyes, Informed by a Deep Understanding of Good Governance

Our team members all have deep experience in all kinds of situations in both U.S.-based and international schools. If you have any issue related to governance, from board-head relationships, to evaluation, to strategic planning, to board and committee configuration and structure, we can help.

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Skip Kotkins

Senior Consultant

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Susanna Jones

Practice Leader, Leadership Coaching Practice; Senior Consultant

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John Allman

Senior Consultant, Coach

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Insights from Our In-House Experts

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A Proven Approach to Support and Guide the Board of Directors/Trustees

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Leading with Purpose: A President's Guide to Effective Board Leadership

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Strengthening the Practice of Enrollment Management: The Importance of Having the Director of Admission/Enrollment Be Part of the Big Table Discussions

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The Importance of the Head of School Compensation Benchmarking Process

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We Are Here to Help

Whether you’re seeking your next career move or searching for your next school leader, we are here to connect you with a team member that can address your specific needs.

Contact Us
Contact Us
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Our Insights 

Learn more about trends and career insights through our resources. Stay informed with our latest articles and thought leadership pieces.

Explore Insights
Explore Insights
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Contact Us to Begin Your Executive Search

Ready to find the perfect leader for your educational institution? Get in touch with us today. Our team is here to assist you in every step of the executive search process.

617-542-0260 Recruitment@carneysandoe.com
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Expertise You Can Trust

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Personalized Support

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Making the Match

Contact Us- school inquiring about a high-level search and/or consulting
Icon of three abstract human figures in a circle, symbolizing a group or community concept.

Expertise You Can Trust

Icon of two hands supporting a person symbol, representing care and support.

Personalized Support

Icon of a person inside a circle with two arrows forming a loop around it, symbolizing user interaction or feedback.

Making the Match